Solar power soars to new heights in Berkley

With three large solar farms pending, Berkley is set to be the top community in solar capacity in the state, according to Berkley Selectmen Chair George Miller.

The three solar farms are set to have a total capacity of about 12 megawatts and will be linked to the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP) once completed.

By Christopher Nichols

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Christopher Nichols

Posted Jul. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 15, 2012 at 3:03 PM

By Christopher Nichols

Posted Jul. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 15, 2012 at 3:03 PM

Berkley

» Social News

With three large solar farms pending, Berkley is set to be the top community in solar capacity in the state, according to Berkley Selectmen Chair George Miller.

The three solar farms are set to have a total capacity of about 12 megawatts and will be linked to the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP) once completed.

“Overall, it’s clean energy. You’re looking at promoting an eco-friendly way to provide electricity,” Miller said. “One of the town’s goals is to be on the forefront of these projects, and at least for the time being, we’ll have more megawatt generation than any other city or town in Massachusetts.”

A megawatt, which is equal to 1,000 kilowatts, on average provides an hour’s worth of energy for 1,000 homes.

At a Special Town Meeting on March 28, voters approved a 6-megawatt solar farm on town-owned land at 49 South Main St. The 30- to 35-acre solar farm is set to consist of 20,000 3-by-5-foot solar photovoltaic panels — making it one of the largest solar farms in Massachusetts.

“I do not know of any other project in the commonwealth that was bigger than Canton,” said Frank McMahon, a partner at Southern Sky.

McMahon said Berkley’s 6-megawatt solar farm will match another 6-megawatt farm being constructed in Carver.

“Berkley’s project will be one of the biggest in the state,” McMahon said.

Berkley is set to make $5,974,960 off the lease of the land, $789,200 from the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement — both over the course of 25 years — and $40,000 to $50,000 from building and electrical permitting fees when the solar farm is constructed.

Selectman Steve Castellina noted that the town currently pays about $116,000 per year on mortgage and interest on the 49 South Main St. parcel, so leasing the land to Southern Sky for the purposes of constructing the solar farm was a great way to reduce costs and generate revenue for the town.

“We want to make it income-producing land,” Castellina said.

Southern Sky is currently in the process of negotiating an interconnection agreement and a power purchase agreement with TMLP. Mike Horrigan, general manager for TMLP, said negotiations are moving forward, and he expects the parties to reach these agreements in the near future.

“Everything’s coming along great,” McMahon said.

Besides the town solar project, two private solar farms are also in the process of completion in Berkley: One at Haskins Farms on Padelford Street and one on Myricks Street. Both solar farms are set to have a capacity of about 3 megawatts.

“There are multiple benefits for the town,” said Miller. “The first obvious benefit is the PILOT. We’re in the process of negotiating agreements now (for the private farms)... The second benefit for us is we’re able to take significant parcels out of potential for residential development.”

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Both Miller and Castellina noted that the town will make more money off of solar farms than off a residential development; the latter could put a strain on education expenses in a town that’s already seen its share of financial struggles.